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1,404 comments Add your comment
DS1
March 12th, 2012
10:55 pm
Nam
A LOT of things are going to have to come together for us to be competitive in the off season this year, so I’d say go with the youngsters.
DS1
March 12th, 2012
10:55 pm
off season = post season
Bravo Nam
March 12th, 2012
10:57 pm
DS1
Time will tell. Gotta go. Bye everyone.
Moe Berg
March 12th, 2012
11:03 pm
Marianne Faithfull is performing in the city this weekend on my birthday but the tickets are quite expensive ($90/each). Trying to decide if it is worth it.
Couch Tater
March 12th, 2012
11:08 pm
I didn’t at least skim the weekend for the first time ever.
“Rogues are preferable to imbeciles because they sometimes take a rest.” – Alexadre Dumas
B-F_52
March 12th, 2012
11:10 pm
Eighty year old John Mayall playing in lowell this summer,also pat matheny
B-F_52
March 12th, 2012
11:11 pm
Chipper should have been a bluesman easier on the knees
Moe Berg
March 12th, 2012
11:13 pm
I have never seen John Mayall–would be nice. But have seen a good show by Pat Matheny.
B-F_52
March 12th, 2012
11:22 pm
Look it up Lowell summer music series more bookings to come but so far these two stick out to me
B-F_52
March 12th, 2012
11:24 pm
Nice little city too rich history
Moe Berg
March 12th, 2012
11:30 pm
Always liked Lowell, when I lived in the Boston area. I agree, a good town. I’m up in Boston in a week-and-a-half and looking forward to it. Was just down in Atlanta this past weekend and up to Boston soon. So thought, I might pop into NYC in between for Marianne Faithfull.
kenhotlanta
March 12th, 2012
11:32 pm
Moe: Marianne Faithful was and probably still is a goddess. I saw her on Jools Holland’s great live music revue show (that is not being shown over here anymore) last year and she is still great.
John Mayall is responsible for the careers of many of the top British rockers of the 60’s and 70’s…I didn’t know he was still performing, but I would love to see him, too.
Saw both of the above back in the day with fond memories of each.
Moe Berg
March 12th, 2012
11:39 pm
kenhotlanta–I know she would be wonderful. Just dropped a lot of money on a trip down to Atlanta this past weekend and will on a trip up to Boston the following. Still, she is on the list of people I would love to see. There are still seats right near the stage. Will waver and probably go.
Must call it a night. Have a series of rather heady meetings tomorrow.
richbrave
March 12th, 2012
11:42 pm
My grandson has had 2 G, 8 AB’s to date this season. As the lead-off hitter, he’s walked six times, been hit by a pitch once, and had a double, 1.000 BA, 1.000 OBP, 2.000 SLG., 3.000 OPS, three SB, 4 R scored, 1 RBI, no E in center. Interesting start to his junior campaign.
richbrave
March 12th, 2012
11:43 pm
Good to see MARTEEEEEEEEN hitting his groove.
Trey
March 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
DS1, Chipotle is good.
Frank
March 12th, 2012
11:47 pm
Pastornicky moves to third, Simmons on SS.
Venice Jim
March 13th, 2012
1:16 am
The night has gotten quiet back East…
Venice Jim
March 13th, 2012
1:37 am
richbrave – only one hit – could be a rough year…
Venice Jim
March 13th, 2012
1:49 am
I;m sure Ward is moments from arriving, but I am outta here – as we approach birthday time out here, I’ll say it an hour and a half early – happy birthday Dana Delany!
Venice Jim
March 13th, 2012
1:49 am
“I’m”
kenhotlanta
March 13th, 2012
2:28 am
Dana Delaney is one of my favorite actresses from way back when she starred in “China Beach”, a very good show about a combat hospital during the Vietnam War. She is now starring in “Body of Proof”, another good procedural show and she still looks sensational. I always wanted her to play Louise Brooks, a beautiful silent screen star who was a throughly modern women in thoughts and looks all the way through to her death in 1985 at the age of 79. She was writing poetry, posing nude and smoking dope all the way to the end and lived her life as free on her own terms as anyone possibly could. She was a female who did it “Her Way”. Dana is now too old to play her as a young actress at the top of her career, but she would have been perfect.
I hope Chipper feels better tomorrow. Goodnight until tomorrow afternoon.
Ward
March 13th, 2012
2:47 am
Hello everyone! Braves almost had a win there.Things are looking up. Good to see Prado hitting well.
Ward
March 13th, 2012
2:54 am
I hope Chipper can play through this year,but I see him playing until the All Star Break. Prado going to 3rd base,and a possible trade for a LF. Doesn’t sound good ,but maybe Chipper will be O.K. If not not? I see a trade in mid-season.Braves finally getting that sugger for LF.
Ward
March 13th, 2012
2:56 am
meant to say getting that slugger for LF at the end there.
Ward
March 13th, 2012
3:09 am
The people who are negative do have the right to be upset,because of the slow start in spring training. It’s possible that the Braves could finish strong at the end of spring training this time? We are seeing progress being made.Long road of spring training left.I look for improvements, and progress. Wins don’t mean much,because it’s spring training.It’s how you finish at the end of spring training,and that your team is in fine tune.
Ward
March 13th, 2012
3:14 am
I love seeing the battle for SS,and find it interesting there. One way or another I’m sure we will be happy with the result. I’m pulling for the Rev,because he’s earned his way up through the Minor League Levels. A,AA,AAA, well alomst triple AAA. All have a good one! Peace My friends……..Talk tomorrow.
Morning Reads for Tuesday, March 13th — Peach Pundit
March 13th, 2012
6:13 am
[...] is running for judge as a Republican in Los Angeles County, California. – Andrelton Simmons is turning heads for the Braves in Spring Training. – The Capitol Avenue Club gives us three Braves that shouldn’t made the [...]
Morning Reads for Tuesday, March 13th — Peach Pundit
March 13th, 2012
6:13 am
[...] is running for judge as a Republican in Los Angeles County, California. – Andrelton Simmons is turning heads for the Braves in Spring Training. – The Capitol Avenue Club gives us three Braves that shouldn’t made the [...]
GwinnettDad
March 13th, 2012
6:24 am
Exhibition season means nothing. Braves 1-10 this season. Playing exactly like they did when they ended last season, aren’t they? But the exhibition season means nothing. Gollee, I sure hope so.
Gimpah & McError
March 13th, 2012
8:00 am
“The big reason for me coming back was my teammates wanted me to come back,” Jones said. “I still feel like I can be a productive major leaguer. We’ll give it this year and see how it feels.”
YEAH, RIGHT! I’m SURE your teammates would rather have you pilfering $14M from the payroll than bringing in someone else that can play better for cheaper. Or here is a thought, how about putting Prado at third and signing a left fielder? Nevermind, Gimper wants to sit on the bench and get paid because he’s selfish.
Don’t you people know anything? Gimper ‘deserves’ the cash for the 1995 world series, eh? Gimper ‘deserves’ to play until he ‘feels’ like retiring. It doesn’t matter if the Braves miss the playoffs again!
Mitchie-sand
March 13th, 2012
8:08 am
Someone get David Wright’s agent on the phone. Stat.
flange1
March 13th, 2012
8:15 am
Thanks for the response DOB.
That was my thinking from afar as well.
Ease
March 13th, 2012
8:16 am
I wonder how far fetched that really is?
Moe Berg
March 13th, 2012
8:17 am
Don’t you people know anything? Gimper ‘deserves’ the cash for the 1995 world series, eh? Gimper ‘deserves’ to play until he ‘feels’ like retiring. It doesn’t matter if the Braves miss the playoffs again!
There seems to be a muddle in the straw man, which you are creating. The idea of just deserts, which you are attacking, has no relevance in determining Chipper’s role on the team. Such theories posit that people receive that which they deserve based on some external criteria–usually two broad theories: egalitarianism or some form of meritocracy. Your sarcasm tends to believe that the latter is the proper form.
However, Chipper being on the team has nothing at all to do with just deserts theory, but rather contract theory. Since there is a binding agreement between the team and Chipper, he will be paid to be on it. Whether he ‘deserves’ this privilege is irrelevant. Bobby Bonilla is still being paid for work done years ago and has not been productive in years. The nature of a contract is not about performance but the agreement.
Jeff R
March 13th, 2012
8:38 am
“‘I’ve said it a million times, it’s hell getting old,’ said [Chipper] Jones, who’ll be 40 next month and sounds as if he’s leaning increasingly toward retirement after this season.”
– DOB
… if Chipper makes it through this campaign. Got to respect Chipper for being so frank. I’ve thought all along that the 120 games goal for Chipper this season was ambitious. I still think it is. I believe Prado will be getting more than his share of playing time at third.
Morning Reads for Tuesday, March 13th
March 13th, 2012
8:43 am
[...] is running for judge as a Republican in Los Angeles County, California. – Andrelton Simmons is turning heads for the Braves in Spring Training. – The Capitol Avenue Club gives us three Braves that shouldn’t made the team [...]
tiger297
March 13th, 2012
8:44 am
Moe – oh come on and be fair to the blog man. That level of logic doesn’t even exisit normally in the real world and you expect the blog to be able to handle it
Jeff R
March 13th, 2012
8:57 am
“However, Chipper being on the team has nothing at all to do with just deserts theory, but rather contract theory.”
– Moe Berg
One quibble (small). Yes, contracts are about the agreement. But there are clauses in contracts about performance (satisfactory delivery of services or better). There are performance clauses in Chipper’s contract that impact renewal and incentives for surpassing expectations.
Yet nothing in Chipper’s contract (I presume) terminates the contract for nonperformance (or under-performing) due to injury or health. Chipper has every right to collect his money, and hopefully, will contribute on the field in 2012.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:07 am
Not surprising on the Chipper news – it was painful just to watch him late last season when every swing looked like it was tearing him up. I really didn’t think he’d even attempt to come back this year.
The question is if he does miss a large portion of time, what do the Braves do? Do they move Uggla to third or left and let Pastornicky play second and Simmons short? Not sure I like the idea of Constanza/Durango/Diaz playing for a large block of games.
Jeff R
March 13th, 2012
9:25 am
Lew, what about Prado? Or have I missed some Braves’ news? Uggla is an adequate defensive second baseman; I can’t imagine he’d even be adequate at third. Prado is a natural infielder. I think if Chipper’s out for an extended period, Wren finds a LF and moves Prado to third.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
9:41 am
Open season for Chipper (and Wren) haters. Those who criticize the contract extension ignor a lot of things, not the least of which is the fact that Chipper had just won the batting title, and could have gotten a much better deal as a free agent. And Moe is correcty…it’s all about the legal contract, not performance. This isn’t the NFL, and baseball players have a real union.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:42 am
JeffR – If you move Uggla to third, Prado plays left. If you move Uggla to left, Prado plays third. Nothing happens to him that isn’t already happening. Uggla and Pastornicky would move.
Of course, I’m not certain how Uggla would do at third or in left or if the Braves would actually do that or maybe just call up Terdoslavich to play third – IF they’d even feel comfortable doing that. It’s all just my own random speculation – maybe with no basis in reality.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
9:43 am
Ideal case would be for Chipper to play at a high level. Second most ideal would be for Chipper to hang it up (ONLY if he can no longer contribute), Prado moves to 3rd, and Wren signs a decent (or better) LF.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
9:45 am
Lew – “maybe with no basis in reality”…why should you be any different from the rest of the bloggers here?
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
9:46 am
I should have said “contributors”.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:48 am
raleighbraves – I think what is REALLY unrealistic is expecting Chipper to retire and give back the $14 mil (or them NOT negotiating a parting deal with him) or taking what they have available and going out and finding another Left Fielder or Thrid Baseman.
Jimmy
March 13th, 2012
9:48 am
I’ve said it before, but this is March 1969 and The Mick all over again. I really hate for Chipper to go out this way.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:50 am
I knew March 1969 and this is NOT March 1969. My hips told me.
beekay
March 13th, 2012
9:50 am
Lew
No way they start the Rev AND Simmons together. Offensively that would be a disaster. I still think we will pick someone elses late cut to start at SS. Prado will fill in at 3rd and left will either come from a trade or maybe they find a way to use that 5 mill they have for someone. Joey Terds”The Deuce” and simmons will hopefully start the year in Mississippi…or if Simmons beats out the Rev then send the Rev to Gwinnett
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:50 am
The difference is in 69 it was Hippie and now it’s hip replacement.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:51 am
beekay – It might be offensive disaster anyway if Chipper does not contribute at all.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:53 am
I agree about where the Kids SHOULD be playing, but with Chipper out of the equation, all changes pretty radically.
Mixxo
March 13th, 2012
9:55 am
Looks like the word is out kids. Dark days.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Rosenthal-Atlanta-Braves-Fredi-Gonzalez-contending-with-slow-spring-start-Chipper-Jones-questions-031212
Monty
March 13th, 2012
9:55 am
Uggla goes nowhere, Prado plays 3rd when Chipper is out, and Diaz, Bourn, and Heyward in the OF. We’d better get some production from JH,FF,BM,Prado and Uggla or it’s going to get ugly. A couple of those guys tank and the Braves are a .500 team at best.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
9:58 am
Lew – I said “ideal”, not “realistic”.
I did not mean to imply he would walk away from the money.
I agree that any “retirement” on Chipper’s part will include an agreement with the Braves for a buyout. He may continue on as a “special assistant” of some kind, as with Tommy Glavin.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
9:58 am
Monty – That’s all fine and well if Chipper misses his normal amount of time, but NOT if he retires or misses weeks at a time.
beekay
March 13th, 2012
9:58 am
Lets hope we don’t have to use Diaz against RH pitching…Hope his power comes back because if he is still a singles hitter this year you might as well start Georgie, he at least has blazing speed to go with his singles
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
9:59 am
Lew
Remember we were talking about Chipper a good amount of times and we both said we have hard time seeing Chipper play over 100 games cause of his knees, well we were right. I’d love to see Wren push for someone like Peter Bourjos to get alot of playing time in LF, and be our CF in 2013 after Bourn leaves. Wishful thinking
Lew
March 13th, 2012
10:00 am
raleighbraves – You weren’t my reference to unrealistic. It’s those who think Chipper’s kmoney would magically reappear on the budget or that we’d go out and get what we didn’t over the winter with the $4 mil they say we have left.
Patrick
March 13th, 2012
10:00 am
DOB, Serious question:
Given Chippers comments yesterday and the pitiful record and sub-par performances by everyone single players not named Prado or Minor.
Have you heard anything regarding the Braves making a move before the season begins?
Thanks
Lew
March 13th, 2012
10:04 am
beekay – I think it would be a Diaz/HInske platoon.
Diaz vs. LHP – .295, .336, .356
Hinske vs. RHP – .252, .333, .421
Diaz had no power last year, but HInske hit 8 of his 10 HR against RHP and knocked in 24 runs.
This platoon wouldn’t be great, but could at least produce average numbers – better than either in there all the time.
Murph
March 13th, 2012
10:05 am
Chipper won’t hang it up until the end of the season… in the meantime, I’m betting that Wren flips a pitcher (probably JJ) for a decent LF sometime before the trading deadline. Prado plays 3rd fulltime and Chipper fills in occasionally as he completes his farewell tour around the league.
It’s a sad day to see one of your heroes throw in the towel, but I think that’s what is happening here. Better to know it early in the spring so the team can make adjustments.
Too bad The Terd is still at least a year away from being ready.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:06 am
Lew – Agree completely. The “Chipper should retire and quit stealing money from the Braves” crowd, that though we would magically gain $14M have always been….well….ignorant of the facts.
Patrick
March 13th, 2012
10:06 am
This year seems DOOMED already before it’s begun.
That’s sad.
On a side note. I bet the Braves are happy that the didn’t make the HUGE mistake of trading Prado for Seth Smith….
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:06 am
though = thought
abeeewright
March 13th, 2012
10:09 am
“Pastornicky moves to third, Simmons on SS.”
The Rev’s biggest defensive concern (so far) has been his throwing. Add some distance and that should get worse. He’s not hitting like a third baseman either.
Jeff R
March 13th, 2012
10:10 am
Lew, all -
Prado has expressed a desire to eventually return to the infield. I think he’s the more natural fit at third than the other options (Uggla or a rookie). Uggla is an okay fielder at second; I’m not sure he has the range for third. I sure don’t think Uggla has the range for LF.
I agree with those that say Prado swings to third and Wren finds a replacement for Prado in LF. I anticipate that Chipper plays this season, albeit far fewer games than some have hoped.
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:12 am
Pastornicky could be a solid defender at Shortstop in time, but long term his best spot is 2nd base IMO
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:12 am
“DOOMED already”…after the first week or so of ST?? It’s possible that we are headed that way, but I don’t think so…at least not yet. It certainly is too soon to determine that.
Monty
March 13th, 2012
10:13 am
Interesting that Chipper thought he was ready for ST but once he got there he found out he wasn’t. Sounds like his knees are much worse than he thought or one would have to question his conditioning regimen in the off season. I would hope it would be the latter but I suspect it to be the former.
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 13th, 2012
10:14 am
They’re getting the losing out of the way in the games that don’t count…
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:14 am
I’m sure Wren is gonna check around for Shortstop help and Left field help. See if any deals make sense for us.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:15 am
VaBraves – “”long term” likely won’t happen until Uggla is done, or at least, done with the Braves.
Murph
March 13th, 2012
10:16 am
Prado and Simmons on the left side gives me a lot more confidence in our D than Prado and The Rev or Chipper and The Rev.
Funny how you go into the season fully expecting one lineup and after a few weeks all that goes in the crapper. Right now I’d expect something like this:
1. Bourn
2. Prado
3. Freeman
4. Uggla
5. McCann
6. Heyward
7. Diaz/Hinske
8. Simmons
McFann :Ô: :Ô: :ô:
March 13th, 2012
10:19 am
Murph—
I love that lineup. But I doubt Fredi would go for that…
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:20 am
If worse comes to worse, we have slick fielding Jack Wilson to plug in there to atleast provide the good defense. A solid platoon of Hinske and Diaz in LF as Lew Pointed out.
Simmons has MLB ready defense, but he hasn’t seen advanced pitching and I bet he would be pretty bad at the plate making the jump from A ball to the Majors… Talking about a guy who’s main question marks going forward is will he hit enough. I just think we’d better him by starting him in AA and let him improve.
ncgary
March 13th, 2012
10:23 am
furcal didn’t have much of a problem making the jump
Travis
March 13th, 2012
10:24 am
The constant reminder of Chipper sitting on the bench and preventing this “budgetly challenged” franchise form hiring the talent it needs might be too much for some. This probably wouldn’t be as big an issue if the someone like Heyward were stepping up to replace the offense lost from Chipper. Very puzzling to me that so many Baby Braves haven’t thrived at this level. It’s only money!
beekay
March 13th, 2012
10:24 am
Lew
I like Hinske’s bat but I dread his glove in LF…I also like having him available late innings to pinch hit, especially with RawDog gone
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:25 am
Yeah, but Simmons isn’t Furcal
George
March 13th, 2012
10:27 am
Enter your comments here
Trader Jack
March 13th, 2012
10:28 am
I see the Chipper haters are out in full force on the other blog.
Maybe they should call that training facility Dark Cloud instead of Dark Star
George
March 13th, 2012
10:29 am
I posted this last evening when blog was almost dead so not many read it, so I am reposting it.
**********************************************************************
George
March 12th, 2012
8:13 pm
It just goes on and on and on. What a season. On CHIPPER I told y’all BRAVES were hideing something with him, that it was more than just a sore leg. CHIPPER at least is honest about it. If CHIPPER feels he cannot play well this year, he should retire now and go out with that good season last year. I would hate to see him struggle thru the year and end career on a sad note. I remember WILLIE MAYS stayed to long. I know CHIPPER will do the right thing.
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:30 am
beekay
Eric Hinske hit 197. as a pinch hitter last season in 68 plate apperances with 25 K’s. He also hit 164. in late and close games last season. He hit 111. in August and 130. in September..
frank huff
March 13th, 2012
10:30 am
David, as a teenager and old Atlanta Cracker fan, I drolled over a young second baseman playing at Jacksonville. thought he would be in Atlanta the next season, the great Hank Aaron went straight to Milwaukee Braves. Believe Jax was class a. so maybe the young shortstop can make it too. thankx from a retiree in south florida. uga 59
Murph
March 13th, 2012
10:30 am
My thoughts on Simmons and whether he’s ready: There’s only one way to find out. Put him in, give him ’til the end of May, and if he’s hitting under .200, send him down.
I’m not expecting the guy to come out and his .300, but I’d be willing to bet his OBP will be higher than what we saw out of Gonzo. Similar fielding ability, better arm, better OBP… sounds like an upgrade to me.
I wouldn’t say I’m desperate, but I’m starting to get a feeling that this season is going to go differently than I had originally thought. Might as well give the kid a shot, especially if he really is the SS of the future.
George
March 13th, 2012
10:35 am
I can’t imagine CHIPPER being on the active roster of a team that may win only 30 or 40 games this year. That would be so sad.
richbrave
March 13th, 2012
10:37 am
Loving PRADO’s comeback and not much else in this ST so far.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:37 am
Dear Chipper haters…here are some facts:
- Chipper has a contract. Whether he is “worth” what he is being paid is a moot (mute
) point.
- If Chipper retires, he still won’t “walk away” from the money owed him (nor should he) …there will be some agreement with the Braves that includes him being paid some/most money owed.
- If Chipper si “robbing” the Braves, and should walk away from the money, then…by the same logic…the Braves are “robbing” the young guys…almost all the guys during their pre-FA years…and should pay them more.
Enquiring Minds Want to Know
March 13th, 2012
10:38 am
Murph,
If Chipper can’t go I think Heyward has to bat 3rd, not Freeman. What speed we have should be bunched together at the top. And if Heyward doesn’t hit well enough to hold down the 3rd spot, it doesn’t really matter what the line up is- we got big problems.
David O'Brien
March 13th, 2012
10:38 am
Braves lineup: Bourn CF, Prado 3B, McCann C, Uggla 2B, Freeman 1B, Diaz LF, Heyward DH, Pastornicky SS, Constanza RF (Minor LH).
ncgary
March 13th, 2012
10:41 am
this season sure is looking a lot like the movie
lets hope they get the ending right anyway
George
March 13th, 2012
10:41 am
I still think the BRAVES will winn between 81 and 84 games.
Lew
March 13th, 2012
10:42 am
beekay – Several have commented on HInske’s D in left, but I remeber hi making some pretty solid plays and a couple of very good ones.
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:42 am
George – What color is the sky in your world? Only in Bizarro World will the Braves only win 30-40 games.
richbrave
March 13th, 2012
10:42 am
VaBravesFan
March 13th, 2012
10:25 am
“…………Yeah, but Simmons isn’t Furcal………..”
No, he’s better in my estimation. He’s a line-drive doubles hitter, and much better between the ears. He listens. learns, and properly applies adjustments to his game. It’s just too soon to go all in, although as the PASTOR plays himself out of the job, AL may be the one in to start the season.
beekay
March 13th, 2012
10:43 am
VABrave
I still love his power potential late in a game. He did hit 2 ph home runs and the year before his ph #’s were .298/.389/.596
raleighbravefan
March 13th, 2012
10:44 am
George @10:35 – 30 or 40 wins.
George @10:41 – 81-84 wins.
Am I confused, or did you magically change your mind in 6 minutes?
ncgary
March 13th, 2012
10:44 am
sutton probably isnt the answer either, but he hasn’t looked too bad